Day 10 of Lent: Saturday of the First Week – Love Your Enemies and Be Perfect as Your Father Is Perfect
Scripture Readings (from the Roman Missal / USCCB for this day):
First Reading: Deuteronomy 26:16-19
Moses spoke to the people, saying: “This day the LORD, your God, commands you to observe these statutes and decrees. Be careful, then, to observe them with all your heart and with all your soul… The LORD, your God, will set you high above all the nations of the earth… if you keep the commandments of the LORD, your God.”
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8
Blessed are they whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they who observe his decrees, who seek him with all their heart.
Gospel: Matthew 5:43-48 (excerpt)
Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father… So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Reflection
Ten days into Lent, the initial enthusiasm may give way to the reality of daily struggle. The readings today challenge us to go beyond mere rule-following: God commands obedience “with all your heart and with all your soul” (Dt 26:16). Psalm 119 praises those who seek God wholeheartedly, walking blamelessly in His law.
Jesus elevates this in the Gospel, pushing us toward divine love. Loving our neighbor is good—but loving our enemies? Praying for persecutors? This is the radical path to becoming “children of your heavenly Father,” who makes His sun rise on the good and the bad alike. Perfection here isn’t flawless performance but imitating God’s merciful, inclusive love. Lent strips away excuses: no one is too far gone to be loved, and no hurt is too deep for forgiveness to begin.
Who is your “enemy” today—someone who has wronged you, opposes your faith, or simply grates on your nerves? Lent invites us to pray for them, to wish them well, to see them as beloved by God. This is how we grow in holiness and prepare our hearts for Easter joy.
Prayer for Day 10
Heavenly Father,
You call us to observe Your commandments with our whole heart and soul. Grant us the grace this Lent to love not only those who love us, but our enemies as well. Help us to pray sincerely for those who hurt us or oppose us, that we may reflect Your perfect mercy and become true children of light.Purify our hearts from resentment and division.
Teach us to seek You blamelessly, as the Psalmist sings, and to imitate Your boundless love. May our fasting, prayer, and almsgiving open us to the perfection You desire for us in Christ.Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who loved even at the foot of the Cross, strengthen us on this journey. We ask this through Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…
Small Act for Today (fitting for a Saturday in Lent)
- Identify one person who feels like an “enemy” or difficult relationship. Spend a few minutes in prayer specifically for their good—ask God to bless them, heal any wounds between you, and bring peace.
- If possible, perform a small act of kindness toward them (a kind word, a prayer offered silently, or even reaching out if appropriate).
- Attend Vigil Mass if your parish offers it, or prepare your heart for Sunday by reading tomorrow’s Gospel ahead.
The post Day 10: 40 Days of Lent 2026 appeared first on NOVENA PRAYER.